Hair clipper



1967 v. w. PUCINO 3,295,201

HAIR CLIPPER Filed Nov. 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

VITO W. PUCINO MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM 8| PINE ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1967v. w. PUCINO 3,295,201

HAIR CLIPPER Filed Nov. 16, 1964 5 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

VITO W. PUCINO MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM 8 PINE ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1967 v.w. PUCINO 3,295,201

HAIR CLIPPER Filed Nov. 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG."9

INVENTOR.

VITO W. PUICINO MORGAN, FINNEGAN DURHAM 8| PINE ATTORNEYS United StatesFate'nt Ofitice 3,295,201 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 This invention relatesto hair clippers provided with automatic hair tapering devices, and moreparticularly to a novel hair clipper having means for automaticallytapering hair in varying predetermined lengths.

One essential feature of a good haircut is a smoothly graduated taperwhich follows the contour of the head. A properly tapered head of hairshould be shortest at the neckline and ears and, then, gradually anduniformly increase in length on the back and sides of the head as thedistances from the neck and ears increase, thereby producing a neat andsymmetrical appearance. In order to obtain the desired result with onlythe standard hair clipper, comb and scissors, a steady and skillful handis required, but even the most experienced of barbers cannot be assuredof obtaining highly satisfactory results in every instance, as he isrequired to regulate manually the distance from the scalp at which theclipper is held as well as to judge what the proper distances should bein the first instance.

Furthermore, if the barber is to obtain highly satisfactory results withsufficient regularity while using the standard barbers tools, he must bewilling to do this at the expense of speed. This is not too much of ahardship when the barber shop is not crowded and the barber can affordto take his time with each haircut. But during the hours when the shopis crowded with patrons, speed becomes a very important asset and time ahighly valuable commodity. A few minutes saved on each haircut duringthe course of the day can result in a few extra haircuts during thatsame period of time.

Although mechanical aids have heretofore been produced, a good deal oftime and skill are still required, with the barber having to master theuse of these mechanical helpers as well, they being designed merely tofacilitate the tapering operation rather than to produce a taperindependently.

In accordance with the instant invention, a device is provided which,when used with any standard hair clipper, will automatically taper thehair. This device is essentially a wedge-shaped spacer which laterallytilts the cutting element of the clipper with respect to the scalp sothat one end of the cutting element is maintained in closer proximity tothe scalp than is its other end, with intermediate oints on the cuttingelement being held at intermediate distances corresponding to the depthof the spacer at these points.

As the tapering operation proceeds up the back of the head, the overalldistance at which the cutting element is maintained can be increased sothat the length of hair left by the clipper further up the back of thehead can be increased beyond that left by the farther end of the cuttingelement in its former position.

As can be seen, this invention will enable the barber, whether he ishighly skilled or relatively inexperienced, to consistently obtain asymmetrical and uniformly smooth taper, and will also enable him toachieve this result in much less time than it would ordinarily require.

Therefore, it is one object of the instant invention to provide a hairtapering device which, in combination with a hair clipper, will assureeven the inexperienced barber that he will produce a symmetrical,smoothly graduated taper in every instance.

It is a more particular object of the instant invention to provide :adevice which will automatically produce a tapered haircut when used incombination with any standard hair clipper.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a taperingdevice which can take the form of a removable attachment which can beeasily mounted on, and removed from, any standard hair clipper.

Still a further object is the provision of a hair tapering device whichcan take the form of a permanent attachment for any standard hairclipper.

Another object is to provide a hair tapering device which, incombination with a hair clipper, will materially reduce the time neededfor giving a haircut.

It is still another object to provide a hair tapering device which issimple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing which forms a part of the specification and in which likenumerals are employed to designate like parts in the several figures,where- 1n:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of a hair clippertapering attachment according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the attachment;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the tapering attachment and a hairclipper in combination according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of a hair clipper taperingattachment according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation View of the attachment in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view taken along line VII- VII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the attachment according to the inventiontaken along line VIIIVIII in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the attachment in FIG. 4 mounted on astandard hair clipper according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of FIG. 9 with the attachment shifted to aforward position.

Briefly, the invention comprises, in combination a hair clipper havingmovable cutting elements, and a wedgeshaped spacer which is mounted onand underlies these cutting elements to function as a support for theclipper when the latter is held against the head. The cutting elementsare essentially a pair of opposed blades each having a series ofparallel cutting teeth. The upper cutting teeth are caused to moverapidly in the lateral direction to provide the cutting action. Theforward ends of these teeth therefore define a cutting edge. The spaceris beveled laterally along this cutting edge so that the cuttingelements will be tilted laterally with respect to the scalp. Inaddition, the spacer is beveled in a direction normal to the cuttingedge and is slidably adjustable in this normal direction with respect tothe cutting edge so that the overall distance of the cutting edge fromthe scalp can be varied to thereby control the depth of hair being cut.

In the drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment and analternative embodiment of the invention, the tapering device takes theform of a removable attachment comprising a spacer 11 and structuralmeans 41 for removably afiixing spacer 11 to the standard hair clipper21 shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10, which for illustrative purposes, is theAndis Model M. The clipper is provided with a main body portion 22 andmovable cutting elements which are essentially a pair of opposed blades23 and 24. Each of these blades has a series of cutting teeth 26 and 27respectively, the upper cutting teeth being caused to move laterally inrapidly repeating fashion so as to provide the cutting action. Theforward ends of these upper teeth will hereafter be referred to as thecutting edge 26A. The bottom blade teeth 27 are longitudinally beveledfrom their free ends on their surfaces which contact the spacer. Bottomblade 24 is slidably mounted on the clipper and is conventionallyadjustable by a lever arm 25 in a direction normal to cutting edge 26A.

Spacer 11, illustratively formed of plastic, includes a base portion 12having a leading edge 13. A plurality of parallel comb-like supportingteeth 14- depend forwardly from the leading edge of the spacer in adirection normal to cut-ting edge 26A. In the preferred embodiment shownin FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, teeth 14 depend along the leading edge from oneend of base 12 to a point substantially midway between its two ends.Teeth 14 project angularly downward from base 12 so that their bottomsurfaces lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinally beveled surfacesof the teeth of bottom blade 24, spacer 11 consequently fitting snuglyagainst the bottom blade. In addition, spacer teeth 14 in the preferredembodiment are provided with arrowhead-like hooks 15 which integrallydepend from their free ends to hook around the free ends of teeth 27 ofbottom blade 24 so as to prevent the spacer from slipping forwards orrearwards upon the bottom blade. Teeth 14 are illustratively spaced atsubstantially equal distances from each other thereby allowing theuniform feeding of hair to the cutting blade of the clipper. Inaddition, because there are a relatively great number of teeth 14 in asmall space in the preferred embodiment, the problem of hair bunching asit is fed into the cutting teeth is eliminated.

In accordance with the invention, the teeth of spacer 11 graduallydecrease in both length and depth starting at one end of base 12 andproceeding towards its midpoint. Their relative configurations enablethem, when the spacer is mounted as illustrated in FIG. 3, to functioncooperatively as a laterally beveled supporting member thereby laterallytilting the clipper and cutting blades with respect to the scalp whenthe clipper is held against the scalp in the normal manner for clipping.When so held, the cutting teeth at one end of the cutting blade are heldin closer proximity to the scalp than are the teeth at the other endthereby producing a tapered cut. Because of the configuration of thespacer, all of the teeth need not be used to taper the hair at any givenpoint, as where the curvature of the head requires that only a few teethcontact the scalp. In this way, a uniform taper is produced without theneed for guesswork or manual guidance.

Each of teeth 14 increases in depth from its free end to the leadingedge of base 12 to form a bevel in a di- .rection normal to cutting edge20. Since the teeth project from the leading edge at a downward angle soas to conform to the longitudinally beveled teeth at the bottom blade ofthe hair clipper, the spacer and the bottom blade are able to coact tofunction as a single unit. Therefore, when the standard haid clipperhaving the conventional slidably adjustable bottom blade is used, theoperator can move the bottom blade and the attached spacer forward orrearward causing deeper and shallower portions of the supporting teethto be adjacent to cutting edge 26A thereby varying the distance at whichthe cutting edge is held from the scalp. FIG. 9 shows bottom blade 24and the spacer in their rearmost position with the shallowest portionsof the supporting teeth adjacent to the cutting edge of blade 23. FIGS.3 and 10 show the bottom blade and spacer in a forward position withdeeper portions of the supporting teeth adjacent to the cutting edge.

As is evident from these three figures, the entire hair clipper israised away from the scalp when the spacer is shifted forward.Therefore, as the tapering proceeds up the back of the head, the lowerblade and spacer can be gradually shifted forward so as to obtain thesmooth gradual taper desired.

In the illustrative embodiments, the structural means for affixing thespacer to the hair clipper comprises a flat strip formed of any materialhaving high resilient qualities. The ends of this strip are bent so asto form a rectangular plate 42 and a pair of spring clips 43 whichdepend perpendicularly therefrom transversely of its long dimension tograsp the sides of bottom blade 24 of the hair clipper. This plate issecured to the bottom face of the base by a pair of hollow rivets 44which pass through a pair of countersunk holes, referred to as 16 in thepreferred embodiment and 36 in the alternative embodiment, drilledthrough the base. The relationship of these parts is clearly shown inFIG. 8.

In operation, the improved hair clipper in accordance with the instantinvention is held so that the flat outer surfaces MA of the supportingteeth rest against the scalp. Starting at the hair line at the back ofthe neck behind the left ear, the clipper is caused to move in shortcurving strokes starting off in the generally upward direction. Thus theclipper is caused to travel in a path defining an are which starts outin a generally upwards direction and then curves towards the right sideof head. As each stroke is completed, the clipper is shifted to a newposition slightly to the right of its old position, and this procedureis followed until it has completely traversed the back of the head fromthe left ear to the right. This mode of operation causes the closerportions of the cutting edge to traverse the head at the neck line,while the farther portions of the cutting edge traverse the head fartheraway from the neckline thereby producing a tapered cut. The sameprocedure is employed on the sides of the head.

If it is desired that the clipper be used further up the back of thehead, then the bottom blade and spacer are shifted forward, so that thedeeper portions of the spacer teeth are adjacent cutting edge 29. Theprocedure is then repeated.

A less professional method can be used by parents who prefer to givehaircuts in the home. Starting at the same place at the back of thehead, the clipper is caused to traverse the head in a horizontaldirection. The next path traversed will be slightly above the priorpath. Therefore, the bottom blade and spacer are shifted forward to thedesired position and the procedure is repeated.

An alternative embodiment of the invention contemplates a wedge-shapedspacer which is permanently affixed to the hair clipper. In this formthe invention comprises a bottom blade for a hair clipper which hasteeth of graduated lengths and depths and in which each of the teeth islongitudinally beveled from its free end so as to increase in depth asit proceeds back towards the base from which it projects.

In the alternative embodiment shown in the drawings, only three changesare present. Supporting teeth 34 extend all the way across the base fromone end to the other rather than halfway. There are fewer of these teethand they are consequently more widely spaced. And finally, the teeth donot have hook portions at their free ends.

Another embodiment would include teeth of equal depth, with the baseportion being beveled in appropriate fashion. The teeth can be ofgraduated lengths but need not be. In fact, it is within thecontemplation of the invention to provide a spacer having no teeth atall, with just the base portion remaining and being beveled inappropriate fashion.

In the study and practice of the invention, variations and modificationswill undoubtedly occur, and it is understood that any changes in thedetails, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have hereinbeen described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of theinvention may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing fromthe principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an improved hair clipper adapted for tapering the hair in a singlestep operation, the improvement comprising a spacing attachmentpositioned, when held against the head during the clipping operation, toform the support for said hair clipper, said spacing attachment beingformed With a base having a leading edge and a trailing edge and aplurality of comb-like teeth extending forwardly along said leading edgefrom one lateral end of said base to a point intermediate its two endsto underlie the cutting element of said hair clipper from one lateralend thereof to a point intermediate its two ends,

said teeth gradually decreasing in depth from said lateral end to saidintermediate point forming a laterally beveled supporting surface forlaterally tilting said cutting element with respect to the scalp whilepermitting one lateral end of said cutting element to contact the scalp.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said teeth graduallydecrease in length from said lateral end to said intermediate point.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said teethgradually decreases in depth from said leading edge forwardly andwherein said spacing attachment is slidably adjustable forwardly orrearwardly with respect to said cutting element whereby the overalldistance of said cutting element from the scalp and the angle at whichsaid cutting element is tilted with respect to said I scalp can bevaried.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,533,564 4/1925Mani -200 2,780,868 2/1957 Brown 30-200 2,918,723 12/1959 Levin 302003,209,455 10/1965 Gnage 30200 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

J. C. PETERS, Assistrmt Examiner.

1. IN AN IMPROVED HAIR CLIPPER ADAPTED FOR TAPERING THE HAIR IN A SINGLESTEP OPERATION, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A SPACING ATTACHMENTPOSITIONED, WHEN HELD AGAINST THE HEAD DURING THE CLIPPING OPERATION, TOFORM THE SUPPORT FOR SAID HAIR CLIPPER, SAID SPACING ATTACHMENT BEINGFORMED WITH A BASE HAVING A LEADING EDGE AND TRAILING EDGE AND APLURALITY OF COMB-LIKE TEETH EXTENDING FORWARDLY ALONG SAID LEADING EDGEFROM ONE LATERAL END OF SAID BASE TO A POINT INTERMEDIATE ITS TWO ENDSTO UNDERLIE THE CUTTING ELEMENT OF SAID HAIR CLIPPER FROM ONE LATERALEND THEREOF TO A POINT INTERMEDIATE ITS TWO ENDS, SAID TEETH GRADUALLYDECREASING IN DEPTH FROM SAID LATERAL END TO SAID INTERMEDIATE POINTFORMING A LATERALLY BEVELED SUPPORTING SURFACE FOR LATERALLY TILTINGSAID CUTTING ELEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE SCALP WHILE PERMITTING ONELATERAL END OF SAID CUTTING ELEMENT TO CONTACT THE SCALP.